Cardinal Robert Francis Prevost was elected Pope on May 8, 2025 (local time), taking the name Leo XIV.

Pope Leo XIV is the Church’s first Augustinian Pope, and the first born in North America.

The future Pope was born and raised in Chicago in the United States in 1955. At 27, he was sent to Rome to study Canon Law at the Pontifical University of Saint Thomas Aquinas (Angelicum). Later, he served a mission in Peru, and became the Bishop of Chiclayo.

In 2023, then-Pope Francis called him to Rome to serve as Prefect of the Dicastery for Bishops and President of the Pontifical Commission for Latin America. Later appointed by Francis as Prefect of the Dicastery for Bishops, he became a Cardinal in 2024.

When Pope Francis was hospitalised in early 2025, the future Pope Leo XIV presided over the Rosary for Pope Francis’s health in Saint Peter’s Square.

A Pope of peace

Pope Leo XIV calls us to pray for peace in a world in the midst of storms. The new Pope’s first words when addressing the world from the Central Loggia of St Peter’s Basilica not long after his election were “Peace be with you!”

He also said:

“God loves us, all of us, evil will not prevail. We are all in the hands of God. Without fear, united, hand in hand with God and among ourselves, we will go forward. We are disciples of Christ, Christ goes before us, and the world needs His light. Humanity needs Him like a bridge to reach God and His love. You help us to build bridges with dialogue and encounter so we can all be one people always in peace.”

Social links to Vatican news

Twitter / Facebook / Instagram

Vatican News – English News from the Vatican – News about the Church

  • Cardinal Parolin at World Expo: ‘Beauty is an antidote to cynicism’
    on June 30, 2025 at 3:03 pm

    To mark the National Day of the Holy See at the World Expo in Japan, Cardinal Pietro Parolin explains how beauty and hope are antidotes to cynicism and fear. Read all  

  • From Sydney to the Andes: A journey of hope through youth
    on June 30, 2025 at 3:01 pm

    SACRU’s first joint report showcases how students and staff from Catholic universities worldwide are actively contributing to the UN Sustainable Development Goals. Read all  

  • Bishop Carlassare: South Sudan needs the peace of the Gospel
    on June 30, 2025 at 2:49 pm

    The Bishop of Bentiu reflects on the fragile state of South Sudan as the nation moves toward the 2026 elections. The Comboni missionary calls for a courageous embrace of Gospel peace and nonviolence, urging the Church, schools, and local communities to take an active role in educating the young in peace, justice, and reconciliation. Read all  

  • Ukrainian sister on meeting the Pope: ‘Prayer and faith help us not give up’
    on June 30, 2025 at 1:34 pm

    Ahead of her order’s General Chapter, Sr. Emanujila Vishka, OSBM, recounts her experience meeting Pope Leo XIV and the ongoing aid her congregation provides to those in need in Ukraine. Read all  

  • Vatican Radio participates in European Broadcasting Summit in London
    on June 30, 2025 at 12:58 pm

    From 2 to 4 July, the BBC headquarters in London host the 94th General Assembly of the European Broadcasting Union (EBU), marking the organisation’s 75th anniversary. Vatican Radio, a founding member of the EBU, will be represented by Alessandro Gisotti, Deputy Editorial Director of Vatican Media. Read all